Sunday, November 28, 2010

Bet You've Never Been So Happy to Not Be on a Christmas List

This year I've decided that I'm going to buy most, if not all, of my Christmas presents in Cumberland County. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be showing you examples of some of the little gems that I, have already, or plan on finding. Oh, and just for kicks, I've also decided that I will have a color theme for each person (there is absolutely no rationale for this). I put the following colors in a basket and then drew a different one as I scrolled down my list of recipients: green, red, blue, black, yellow, orange, purple, white (don't start with the, "white isn't a color," nonsense), teal, maroon, pink, and chocolate brown.

For the time being though, here are a couple of suggestions...
1) Consider concocting your own wine, bottle it, and then make your own labels (check out: http://www.grapestompers.com/articles/wine_labels.htm). A friend recommended the following recipe (from allrecipes.com) and it truly was super easy. I settled on a white grape concentrate, and apple concentrate, and an already-prepared cranberry (just added the yeast to the gallon jug). All have been sitting now for about 4 weeks; I'll let you know more when I've actually tasted them.

Ingredients
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
4 cups sugar
1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen juice concentrate - any flavor except citrus, thawed
3 1/2 quarts cold water, or as needed

Directions
Combine the yeast, sugar and juice concentrate in a gallon jug. Fill the jug the rest of the way with cold water. Rinse out a large balloon, and fit it over the opening of the jug. Secure the balloon with a rubber band. Place jug in a cool dark place. Within a day you will notice the balloon starting to expand. As the sugar turns to alcohol the gasses released will fill up the balloon. When the balloon is deflated back to size the wine is ready to drink. It takes about 6 weeks total.
2) For that one, non-local, purchase, choose wisely... Whimsical dog socks from Walgreens are a sound option.
And, this, my friends, is one of the many reasons I said "yes" to Andy.

7 comments:

  1. Love it! I need to come shop with you one day. By the way, the color theme makes perfect sense to me.

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  2. Yes! Sounds like a great day to me.
    And by the way, you and D got "green.":)

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  3. Did he buy you accompanying cat shoes to go with those socks? If not, your Christmas gift is now a given. Let me know how the wine turns out. I'm skeptical, but what's new : )

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  4. Great minds must think alike! Tommy has decided that he is making his own liqueor for his "best buddies". It is currently fermenting it in the "johnny closet" of our master bathroom. Nothing like going to pee in the middle of the night in a hot bathroom with liquor fermenting....hope this makes you smile!

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  5. Glad to see some new entries on the blog!
    I've always been a fan of festive socks (and by festive I mean slightly ridiculous... not that yours are anything but sophisticated and stylish) for Christmas presents.
    And best wishes to you and Andy!

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  6. Caroline - Doubters can't be choosers.

    Kristi - It most certainly did!
    I'm fairly certain Tommy is going to give you an ulcer. I'll fuss on him when he does.

    Alexus - Thanks, missy. You should do an entry soon! (I'm not kidding...I'd love to see what you would come up with!)
    I was wondering where in the world you were going with the "slightly ridiculous" comment; just seemed totally out of the blue...
    Thank you!

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  7. Oh, and for the record, C, I have no idea what "doubters can't be choosers" is supposed to mean. Just made me laugh for some reason.

    For the record, part II: I'll be posting some pictures today of some of my Cumberland Co. finds!

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